Poon Hill Trek

If you are visiting Kathmandu for its wonderful display of Hindu temples and Buddhist shrines you would do well to end your trip with a trek. Throughout Nepal there are wonderful treks to take advantage of, but the best are near the Himalayas Mountain range where you will be spoilt with incredible surroundings and sights.

A trek that is rated one of the best in the country is the Ghorepani, Poon Hill or Pun Hill trek. It is located in the Annapurna region in Nepal and is about four to five hours away from Kathmandu. Here you will see picturesque views of the surrounding mountains, like the Machhapuchhare or the Fishtail Peak, a truly magnificent sight. You will also get a chance to see how the local Gurungs and Magars people live as you pass by their villages which are common in this area. In fact the first Magar village you will come upon is at Ulleri; at that point you are 2070 meters high.

The Poon Hill Trek takes you through beautiful forest areas, made up mainly of Rhododendron and Oak trees and is full of an array of birds that make the most amazing sounds as you pass by. If you are particularly interested in birds then this walk through Pun Hill is the one for you so remember to bring your camera along. Further on as you begin heading into the Banthanti valley the vegetation around you begins to change to a denser, sub-tropical growth, which also contains its own unique flora and fauna. From here you head to Nangethanti which is only an hour's trek from the top of Poon Hill.

The top of Ghorepani Hill, which is at 2775 meters high, is the highlight of the whole trip. If you get a chance to climb to the top near sunrise you will really be in for a treat. These are one of those moments when only your minds eye can capture the beauty that surrounds you; no camera could do justice to the incredible beauties you are about to see. Here you will be able to see some of the tallest mountains in Nepal like Annapurna, which stands at 8,091 meters or Dhaulagiri at 8,167 meters as the morning sun highlights their snow covered peaks.